The Hellenic Armed Forces have officially integrated their first V-BAT unmanned aerial systems.
The announcement came during a ceremony on May 14 attended by Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Minister of Defense Nikos Dendias, alongside top military leadership.
The V-BAT, manufactured by U.S.-based Shield AI, was handed over to the Supreme Military Command of the Interior and Islands (ASDEN) by the Athanasios C. Laskaridis Foundation. Prime Minister Mitsotakis remarked that the Greek military is undergoing “the boldest transformation since the establishment of the modern Greek state.”
According to a statement from Shield AI, “We’re proud to support the Greek military as they expand their use of intelligent, affordable aircraft to safeguard national interests and regional stability.”
Early, Shield AI disclosed operational details from Ukraine, where V-BAT has been field-tested under combat conditions. Ukrainian Special Operations Forces first used the platform on August 24, 2024, flying 60 kilometers into occupied territory and identifying a Russian Buk surface-to-air missile system. That strike was later executed with a HIMARS precision missile, disabling the system and neutralizing enemy personnel. The total flight lasted more than six hours.
Another confirmed operation took place in the Black Sea on November 19, 2024, during a Ukrainian Navy reconnaissance mission near the Kinburn Spit. V-BAT launched from the Odesa area and successfully returned after collecting intelligence on Russian troop and logistics movements.
Following these successful deployments, Shield AI has committed to delivering four additional V-BAT drones to Ukraine upon completion of a five-week pilot training program. The drones will be used by the newly formed Unmanned Systems Forces under the command of Vadym Sukharevskyi.
V-BAT unmanned aerial systems have completed more than 130 sorties in Ukraine, operating alongside the country’s newly established Unmanned Systems Forces (USF).
Military leaders at the Defense Tech Innovations Forum 2025 described V-BAT as a transformative asset for ISR missions, capable of operating in contested environments and evading electronic warfare systems. Greece now joins Ukraine as an active operator of the V-BAT, signaling increased interest in versatile and survivable drone platforms among U.S. allies.